When Damien Melotte asked me to become the O2 liaison for Western Austrlalia a couple of weeks ago I was suprised. Was it because I might be the only member of O2 living in WA or was it because I am working with sustainable materials such as EST (engineered solid timber) and ZELFO?
I didn't know so I asked him what I needed to do as a liaison of O2, how much time do I spend on it. As most designers who have started their own business I have all these irons in the fire, working hard, doing some lecturing for the bread and butter and maintain my client base as well as try to get new clients in. As a result I am a bit of a workaholic...
This was his answer:
Hi there Wilma,
Yes the O2 WA Liaison job is a night job! It involves rounding up other 'eco creatives' towards common goals, issues that may need addressing in WA - e.g. How can sustainability provide new jobs when the resources boom ends??!
This might involve a once a month Green Drinks (check out what's going on in the USA, great to see!) session where key topics are discussed e.g.
Would be great if we can organise an O2 Australia exhibition, and invite a few of the big name designers embracing sustainability to join us.
Anyway better run, I will email Ernst-Jan and tell him the great news and he will send you a more comprehensive list of things Liaisons do - there no contract and nothing is binding - so if the State Liaison role does not suit you - then you can pass it on - so take your time and see how it goes :)
Look forward to meeting you in person!
Warmest Regards
Damien
Than the mail from Ernst-Jan came:
Hi Wilma,
Great that you join as o2 Australia WA liaison!Though I am Dutch, I do live in Switzerland. My wife is swiss. Around 28. Of June I will be in Noorwegen, but i might come to Australia in the coming years.Attached more info on o2 liaisons and how to edit your text at the o2.org website.your pw is eindhovenPlease read some texts / news etc. of other liaison/groups at the O2 LIAISONS page by selecting the right star/dot below.Here you can introduce yourself and your ideas, feelings, visions for design for sustainability in your region & globally, a motivating & informative text for others. At news you can mention activities over time. Please mention a date en below the activity. Just add new ones at top.I selected a picture from your website. It should be width 300, height 200. You can change it yourself.Please mail me, when you changed something. I have to approve the changements before it will be shown to all.
Again thanks and looking forward to meet, hartelijke groeten,
o2 global network foundation
Ernst-Jan van Hattum, chair
Anyway, I thought I just do it. See were it leads to. And as Damien mentions, I can always pass it on.
Josh Dorfman, the guy who wrote the book, is having a radio show with the same titel as well.